I was at my local watering hole last night... enjoying the often humorous conversations with The Anna when “Steve”, the guy next to me, starts in with some small talk regarding the affairs on ESPN.

This is not an unusual occurrence and being the amicable individual I am I have engaged in conversations with many a random person before. It’s always nice to get the crazies on your side.

The conversation covers how awesome NHL and NASCAR are live. I force a grin and say 'sure'... knowing damn well I hate either regardless of live or on TV. I even throw in an anecdote about going to a UNO Maverick’s game once. Fair enough. Then it he started inquiring on what I do, how long I was in school, and so forth. This is where the conversation turns dicey. He recants one of his golden college day stories where this intro class was taught by a teacher who was “totally smashed” every day. He then babbles about where this prof is now and makes some sort of comment on how he refused to donate to a foundation tenuously attached to the ex-prof because of this perceived drunken image almost thirty years old.

As a defender of the teaching arts I make comments like “dude.. that was thirty years ago.. perhaps your memory is hazy” or “hell it’s an intro 101 class if I was the prof I would kick back a few before class too” or “that sounds highly unlikely”. Steve then recants and says he donates now (and has been for a few years) to this foundation even though it goes against his grudge. I tried to pry and see if this prof was an ass to him, failed him, or taught a bad class. Nope… Steve just had the comparison of a teacher thirty years ago… in an intro 101 class and his current day position.
Wow. It sounds like Steve has some major issues with his lot in life. It’s sad really. This is his go-to story regarding college? Damn.
Did I mention this ex prof is my buddies’ dad? Niiiiiiiiiiiice. I opted to hold my tongue to see if Steve would pontificate more on this ex prof but didn’t. He suddenly became more interested in these three recent UNK graduates that showed up. Steve plied them about if UNK is as awesome as it was, and then seg-wayed into his glory days as a wrestler.

Through a series of hilarious (and well restrained) jabs the three guys were picking something fierce on Steve. It was hard not to burst out laughing every four minutes. Good times.

I would have loved to hear Steve talk more about the ex-prof so at the height of his discussion I can bust out “Hey! Watch yourself bitch! That’s my bros’ dad!” for excellent shell shock, but alas not so much. Sure speaking up early would have been appropriate, but letting that dog run a bit can be equally amusing.

Side fun facts of Steve: he was been recently divorced and is almost fifty.